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Masseur/masseuse

Also called salon therapist, professional masseuse, thai massage therapist

Masseurs/masseuses perform massages to help their clients relax and de-stress according to their preferences. They use appropriate massages, equipment and oils and also instruct their clients on techniques to improve relaxation.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects26 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Personal service workersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €900 (Bulgaria) to €3,900 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Personal service workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 3 in 10 train through vocational routes.Personal service workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Beauticians and related workers · ILO

What you'd do

Beauticians and related workers · ILO
  • Cleaning and applying creams, lotions and related products to face and other parts of the body
  • Giving facial and body massage
  • Applying make-up to clients of a beauty parlour or to actors and other performers
  • Cleaning, shaping and polishing finger- and toe-nails and treating ailments of the human foot such as corns, calluses or deformed toe-nails
  • Attending to clients taking baths and administering elementary massage
  • Using waxing, sugaring and depilation techniques to remove unwanted bodily hair
  • Advising clients on diet and exercise to assist in weight loss and slimming
  • Arranging appointments and collecting payments
Give massagesMaintain customer serviceWork ergonomicallyMaintain personal hygiene standardsCommunicate with customers+ 6 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually under 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Massage Therapists"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as personal service workers in the EU
10.21m10.63m10.46m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
3,074,000 replacing leavers 244,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Personal service workers26
All jobs29
Right now
6 of 27 countries report a shortage of beauticians and related workers, 9 a surplus.
Beauticians and related workers · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €900 a month (Bulgaria) to €3,900 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among service and sales workers in the EU, women earn 3% less per hour than men. Service and sales workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in therapy and rehabilitation is the usual route.

Highest qualification of personal service workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 15%Vocational 46%General secondary 16%Basic schooling 23%
Fields that teach it
Therapy and rehabilitation · Hair and beauty services
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.18 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Arranging appointments and collecting payments0.54
Advising clients on diet and exercise to assist in weight loss and slimming0.43
Applying make-up to clients of a beauty parlour or to actors and other performers0.10
Cleaning and applying creams, lotions and related products to face and other parts of the body0.09
Attending to clients taking baths and administering elementary massage0.08
Cleaning, shaping and polishing finger- and toe-nails and treating ailments of the human foot such as corns, calluses or deformed toe-nails0.08
Giving facial and body massage0.08
Using waxing, sugaring and depilation techniques to remove unwanted bodily hair0.07

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for beauticians and related workers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).